Ilex plant named ‘C-11-46-77-23’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Ilex verticillata  cultivar named ‘C-11-46-77-23’ which is characterized by vigorous growth with strong, upright main stems with numerous lateral branches, with each bearing large vibrant yellow-orange berries that age to pale orange in subsequent weeks, borne along their entire length. The claimed plant propagates successfully by softwood stem cuttings and has proven to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Ilex verticillata.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Ilex verticillatadisclosed herein has been given the variety denomination‘C-11-46-77-23’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Ilexverticillata, which has been given the denomination, ‘C-11-46-77-23’.Ilex verticillata, known commonly as winterberry, is a deciduousperennial that is widely cultivated for its ornate berries born alongthe lateral branches. The berries persist for many months through falland winter, making it an ideal plant for ornamental landscaping in itshardiness range and also for the cut flower industry.

Parentage: The new cultivar ‘C-11-46-77-23’ is a seedling selectionresulting from the open pollination of Ilex verticillata ‘B-46-77’ (notpatented), the seed parent, and an undesignated male Ilex verticillataplant, the pollen parent. In 2014, seeds were harvested from ‘B-46-77’which resulted in 363 seedlings. On May 22, 2015, the seedlings weretransplanted into a field in Willow Creek, Calif. and grown to a maturesize. From 2015 to 2017, these plants were evaluated for commercialproduction, based on criteria such as growth habit and fruiting habit.On Aug. 26, 2017, one plant was observed which exhibited an uprightgrowth habit with a large number of very strong main stems, each with ahigh density of large, vibrant yellow-orange berries that age to paleorange in subsequent weeks, borne all along the lateral branches. Thenew plant was isolated and grown to a mature size to confirm thedistinctness and stability of the characteristics initially observed.After further evaluation and confirmation of the desirable traits, theclaimed plant was finally selected for commercialization in December of2017 and given the breeder denomination, ‘C-11-46-77-23’.

Asexual Reproduction: On Sep. 12, 2017, ‘C-11-46-77-23’ was firstasexually reproduced in Willow Creek, Calif. by way of softwood stemcuttings taken from one year old growth. The claimed plant was found toasexually reproduce in uniform and stable manner and three successivecycles of vegetative propagation have proven to be true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed andrepresent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Ilexverticillata cultivar ‘C-11-46-77-23’. These traits, in combination,distinguish ‘C-11-46-77-23’ as a new and distinct cultivar.

-   -   1. ‘C-11-46-77-23’ exhibits excellent plant vigor and a fast        rate of growth; and    -   2. ‘C-11-46-77-23’ exhibits a large quantity of strong and        upright main stems; and    -   3. ‘C-11-46-77-23’ exhibits short lateral branches; and    -   4. ‘C-11-46-77-23’ exhibits a large quantity of berries born        along the entire length of the lateral branches, including the        distalmost portion of the lateral branches usually devoid of        berries in the species; and    -   5. ‘C-11-46-77-23’ exhibits large, vibrant yellow-orange berries        that age to pale orange in subsequent weeks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary two and a halfyear old field-grown ‘C-11-46-77-23’ plant in Willow Creek, Calif.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the exemplary mature foliageof ‘C-11-46-77-23’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the exemplary berries of‘C-11-46-77-23’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinctvariety of a Ilex verticillata known as ‘C-11-46-77-23’. Plantobservations were made on field grown plants produced in Willow Creek,Calif. Unless indicated otherwise, the descriptions disclosed herein arebased upon observations made of a mature ‘C-11-46-77-23’ plant,transplanted into a loamy clay field on Jun. 25, 2019, as a one-year-oldrooted cutting grown in a 4 inch nursery pot. The plant was grown infull sun, and was provided a combination of overhead and dripirrigation. Fertilizer was regularly applied using a fertigationtechnique, and the plant was occasionally treated for mites whenrequired. In March of 2020, the plant was pruned to 7 cm above soillevel and have since been allowed to grow without further pruning.Observation data was recorded in the September of 2021.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, younger plants. ‘C-11-46-77-23’ hasnot been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety mayvary with variations in the environment such as season, temperature,light intensity, day length, cultural conditions and the like. Colornotations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, 1986 edition except where commonterms of color are used.

A botanical description of ‘C-11-46-77-23’ and comparisons with the seedparent and most similar commercial variety known to the inventor areprovided below.

-   General plant description:    -   -   Plant habit.—Deciduous perennial shrub with an upright            growth habit and excellent plant vigor.        -   Height.—Approximately 140 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 75 cm.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Hardy in US Hardiness Zones 3            through 9; high tolerance to wind and rain.        -   Pest and disease susceptibility or resistance.—Plants have            not been observed to be susceptible or resistant to            pathogens and pests common to Ilex verticillata.        -   Propagation.—Propagation is accomplished using softwood stem            cuttings.        -   Time to develop roots.—Approximately 21 days, in a            propagation house with bottom heat and an average ambient            temperature of 25 degrees Celsius.        -   Crop time.—Approximately 5 weeks are needed to produce a            fully rooted cutting; after transplanting young plants grown            in four-inch nursery containers into a production field,            fruit bearing stems can be harvested from the mature plants            at the end of the second growing season.-   Root system:    -   -   Description.—A network of larger primary roots and fine,            fibrous lateral roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, dense, and evenly            distributed throughout the soil profile.        -   Color, primary roots.—Nearest to a mixture of greyed-yellow,            greyed-orange, and greyed-brown; RHS 161A, 165A, and 199A.        -   Color, lateral roots.—Greyed-orange, nearest to RHS 165C.-   Stems:    -   -   Branching habit.—Free, basally branching habit; numerous            upright main stems, each producing numerous lateral            branches. Main stems are typically unbranched, yet            occasionally branched. Main stems — Quantity — 8 observed.            Attitude — Erect; near vertical. Cross section — Circular.            Diameter — Up to 18 mm, at the base of the most mature            stems. Length — Longest stem is 122 cm long. Internode            length — Varying from 10 to 15 mm. Color — Greyed-green,            nearest to in between RHS 197B and 198A, with densely            reticulated fissures; fissures are colored greyed-brown,            nearest to RHS 199D. Texture — Glabrous and fissured;            lenticels present. Lenticels are elliptical; approximately            1.0 mm long and 0.5 mm wide; lenticel color is greyed-brown,            nearest to RHS 199D. Strength — Very strong. Lateral            branches — Quantity — Lower lateral branches senescing with            age; 18 to 22 lateral branches per main stem which are            predominantly present on the upper half of main stems. Stem            angle to main axis — In between 45 and 75 degrees.            Cross-section — Circular. Diameter — 3 mm at the base.            Length — Longest lateral branch is 15 cm long. Internode            length — Varying from 10 to 15 mm. Color, juvenile —            Yellow-green, RHS 144A. Color, mature — Nearest to a mixture            of yellow-green and greyed-green; RHS 144A, 147B, 199B, and            199C. Texture — Smooth, glabrous; lenticels present.            Lenticels are elliptical; approximately 1.0 mm long and 0.75            mm wide; color is greyed-brown, RHS 199D. Stem strength —            Strong.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Length.—67.25 mm, on average.        -   Width.—31.5 mm, on average.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Serrate; slightly undulated.        -   Aspect.—Nearly flat to slightly carinate.        -   Texture and pubescence, adaxial surface.—Glabrous and            slightly rugose.        -   Texture and pubescence, abaxial surface.—Glabrous and            slightly rugose.        -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Yellow-green,            nearest to a mixture of RHS 144A, 151A, and 153A; suffused            with greyed-orange, nearest to RHS 172A. Juvenile foliage,            abaxial surface — Yellow-green, RHS 144B. Mature foliage,            adaxial surface — Nearest to yellow-green, RHS 147A. Mature            foliage, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to in            between RHS 147B and 147C.        -   Venation.—Pattern — Pinnate. Vein color, adaxial surface —            Yellow-green, RHS 144A. Vein color, abaxial surface —            Yellow-green, nearest to in between RHS 144B and 145B.        -   Petiole.—Length — 11.5 mm, on average. Diameter — 1.625 mm,            on average. Color, adaxial surface — Yellow-green, RHS 144C.            Color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to in between            RHS 144B and 145B. Texture, adaxial and abaxial surfaces —            Smooth; glabrous.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Solitary flowers occur at the leaf axils, with 1 to 3            flowers at each axil.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Shape.—Globose to short ovoid.        -   Dimensions.—2.75 mm long and 2.75 mm in diameter, on            average.        -   Color, upper and lower surfaces.—Yellow-green, RHS 145B, at            the base and becoming green-white towards the distal end,            RHS 157C.-   Flower:    -   -   General description.—Single rotate flowers with a shallow            cup shape.        -   Natural flowering season.—May through early June in Willow            Creek, Calif.        -   Quantity.—1 to 3 flowers per axil, with approximately 6 to 9            flowers on shorter proximal lateral branches and 18 to 36 on            longer distal lateral branches.        -   Lastingness.—At greater than 25 degrees Celsius, petals drop            away in approximately 5 days; at 15 degrees Celsius, petals            drop away in approximately 8 days.        -   Persistence.—Not persistent.        -   Fragrance.—Not fragrant.        -   Attitude.—Flowers held upright and slightly outward.        -   Dimensions.—Corolla is 6.0 mm in diameter and 3.0 mm deep.        -   Peduncle.—Dimensions — 3.0 mm long and 0.75 mm in diameter.            Color — Yellow-green, RHS 144B. Texture — Smooth; glabrous.            Strength — Medium.        -   Calyx.—Shape — Sepals fused at the base forming a cup, with            6 rotate sepal lobes. Diameter — 2.25 to 2.5 mm, measured            from apex of one sepal lobe to the apex of an opposing sepal            lobe. Depth — 1.25 mm deep. Quantity of sepal lobes — 6            sepal lobes. Apex, sepal lobes — Sepal lobes acute. Base —            Fused. Margin — Entire; ciliate. Texture, inner and outer            surfaces — Smooth and glabrous. Color when opening, inner            surface — Yellow-green, a mixture of RHS 144D and 145C.            Color when opening, outer surface — Yellow-green, a mixture            of RHS 144D and 145C. Color when fully open, inner surface —            Yellow-green, a mixture of RHS 144D and 145C. Color when            fully open, outer surface — Yellow-green, a mixture of RHS            144D and 145C.        -   Petals.—Quantity of petals — 6 petals, fused at the base.            Arrangement — Single rotate whorl. Petal lobe apex — Obtuse.            Petal lobe margin — Entire; slightly undulated. Texture,            inner and outer surfaces — Smooth; glabrous. Luster, inner            and outer surfaces — Matte to very slightly glossy. Color            when opening, inner surface — White, RHS 155D. Color when            opening, outer surface — White, RHS 155D. Color when fully            open, dorsal surface — Nearest to white, RHS 155D; petals            are slightly translucent. Color when fully open, ventral            surface — Nearest to white, RHS 155D; petals are slightly            translucent. Petal color fading to — Not fading.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Stamens — Quantity — 6. Position — Inserted;            free. Attachment — One stamen attached at the base of each            petal. Overall length — Approximately 1.20 mm long. Filament            — Dimensions — 0.5 to 0.75 mm long and approximately 0.25 mm            in diameter. Color — White, nearest to RHS 155D. Anthers —            Attachment — Basifixed. Shape — Nearly globose, with a            longitudinal split. Dimensions — 0.5 mm long and 0.5 mm            wide. Color — White, nearest to RHS 155D. Pollen — None.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistils — Quantity — One; inferior to the            corolla. Overall dimensions — Approximately 2.0 mm tall and            1.75 mm in diameter at the widest point. Stigma — Shape —            Globular. Dimensions — 1.5 to 1.75 mm in diameter, and 0.5            mm to 0.75 mm tall. Color — Yellow-green, approximating to a            combination of RHS 144C and 144D. Style — Shape — Relatively            broad, and truncated. Dimensions — 0.5 to 0.75 mm tall and            0.5 to 0.75 mm in diameter. Color — Yellow-green, nearest to            a mixture of RHS 144B, 151A, and 151B. Ovary — Position —            Superior. Dimensions — 0.5 to 0.75 mm tall and 1.0 mm in            diameter. Color — Yellow-green, RHS 144C.-   Fruit and seed:    -   -   Fruit.—Type — Simple, indehiscent berry. Time to maturity —            Very early to fruit, maturing usually near the first week of            September in Willow Creek, Calif. Shape — Globose. Quantity            — 1 to 3 berries per axil, with approximately 6 to 9 berries            on shorter proximal lateral branches and 18 to 36 on longer            distal lateral branches. Dimensions — Approximately 11 mm in            diameter, and 10 mm tall. Texture, pubescence and luster —            Smooth, glabrous and glossy. Color, mature fruit — Nearest            to a combination of yellow-orange and orange; RHS 20A, 21A,            23B, 24A, 24B, and 25A; in subsequent weeks, berries age to            a pale orange, nearest to a mixture of RHS 24B, 25B, and            26A.        -   Seed.—Quantity — Usually 4 per berry. Shape — Oblong,            three-sided, with an ovate to deltoid outline. Dimensions —            3.5 to 4.0 mm long and 1.25 to 1.5 mm in diameter. Color —            Greyed-orange, RHS 164C. Texture — Slightly rough.-   Comparison with the parent plants: Plants of the new cultivar    ‘C-11-46-77-23’ differ from the seed parent, Ilex verticillata    ‘B-46-77’ (not patented), by the characteristics described in    Chart 1. The pollen parent is unknown and therefore no comparison is    available.

CHART 1 Characteristic ‘C-11-46-77-23’ ‘B-46-77’ General coloration of Amixture of yellow- Red. the berries. orange and orange. Productivity;number 9. 5. of harvestable main stems. Vase life; lastingness At least10 weeks 6 weeks. of the berries. from harvest.

-   Comparison with the most similar Ilex verticillata cultivar known to    the inventor: Plants of the new cultivar ‘C-11-46-77-23’ are most    similar to the cultivar, ‘Golden Verboom’ (not patented). A    comparison of ‘C-11-46-77-23 with Ilex ‘Golden Verboom’ is described    in Chart 2.

CHART 2 Characteristic ‘C-11-46-77-23’ ‘Golden Verboom’ Timing of fruitTypically by the third Typically in the third maturation. week of Augustin week of September; Willow Creek, Cali- four weeks later than fornia;four weeks ‘C-11-46-77-23’. earlier than ‘Golden Verboom’. Generalcoloration A mixture of yellow- Pale golden yellow. of the berries.orange and orange. Occurance of berries Berries present along Berriesonly present on lateral branches. the entire length of on approximately50 lateral branches. percent of lateral branches; distalmost portiondevoid of berries. Vase life; lastingness At least 10 weeksApproximately 3 to of the berries. from harvest. 4 weeks.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Ilexverticillata plant named ‘C-11-46-77-23’, substantially as described andillustrated herein.